After missing the playoffs last season by six games, the Boston Red Sox are looking to reclaim the American League East division with their strongest team maybe since the historic 2004 season.

With injuries to key starters like Jacoby Ellsbury, Mike Cameron, Kevin Youkilis and Dustin Pedroia, seeing the full team back in action this spring could not have come soon enough. Adrian Gonzalez was acquired from the San Diego Padres, and is four months removed from right shoulder surgery, which he says it getting better every day.

With superstition being just as big a part of baseball as a hot dog on a cool summer night, no one wants to speculate how the Sox’s season will fare. But with their full team chomping at the bit, expectations are high.

“It’s great,” said Pedroia. “Everyone’s excited, too. It makes you hungry. We haven’t been out there in a while together, too. It’s going to be fun. We’re all pumped up about it.”

How are their chances at winning the first World Series of a new decade? With one of the most consistent pitching staffs in the Bigs, and an offense as intimidating as a pack of grizzly bears, I think this season could be one for the books.